INSPIRE Scholarship: Eligibility Criteria & Application Process

Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) was the brainchild of our former President, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the missile man of India. The program was launched in November 2008 by the Department of Science and Technology, aiming to help students at various levels of education from standard 6 to PhD who are passionate about science and research to achieve their academic and professional ambitions. Whether you're a budding scientist or simply curious about this unique opportunity, read on to discover what the INSPIRE scholarship can do for you.

Components of INSPIRE scholarship?

INSPIRE scholarship aims to encourage young minds to explore their potential and make groundbreaking discoveries that can benefit society as a whole. These scholarships are categorized into three, focusing on students of different age groups:

• Scheme for Early Attraction of Talents for Science (SEATS) for school students.
• Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) for graduate and postgraduate students.
• Assured Opportunity for Research Careers (AORC) for doctoral and postdoctoral students.

Scheme for Early Attraction of Talents for Science (SEATS)

Scheme for Early Attraction of Talents for Science (SEATS) is to attract the youth of 10-15 years to study science. It comprises two sub-schemes: INSPIRE Awards and INSPIRE Internships.

• INSPIRE awards: A continuing scheme for five years, students would get scholarships through this program. Annually 10 lakh bright students receive INR 5000. 
• INSPIRE internships: This program is exclusive to the selected 1% of class 10 toppers. Selected candidates will get summer and winter internships to boost their interest in bringing fresh thoughts to science and technology. 

Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) 

With a vision to nurture higher education in natural sciences, INSPIRE Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) provides INR 80,000 yearly to 10,000 students. Selected applicants are provided mentorship support. 

Candidates pursuing bachelor’s or master’s in natural sciences of age between 17-22 can apply. The maximum duration for the program is 5 years. Selected students must have an account in the State Bank of India. The scholarship reaches your bank account in installments. 

Courses eligible for INSPIRE higher education scholarship

• Physics
• Chemistry 
• Biology
• Maths
• Geology
• Oceanic Studies
• Biochemistry
• Geochemistry
• Botany
• Microbiology
• Anthropology
• Geophysics
• Astrophysics
• Atmospheric Sciences
• Zoology
• Electronics
• Statistics
• Astronomy

Apart from these courses mentioned above 8 new subject areas are eligible at the postgraduate level: 

• Biostatistics
• Bioinformatics
• Biotechnology
• Data Science
• Environmental Science
• Materials Science
• Nano Science
• Remote Sensing and GIS

Assured Opportunity for Research Careers (AORC)

The Assured Opportunity for Research Careers (AORC) program comprises a fellowship scheme and INSPIRE Faculty Award. Annually the INSPIRE program offers 1000 AORC fellowships for both its schemes.

• INSPIRE Fellowship: It provides research fellowships to doctoral students for a maximum of 5 years. Researchers of all science subjects, including medicine and engineering, can apply for this fellowship. Eligible students who don’t take PhD admissions will get a provisional offer valid for one year. 
• INSPIRE Faculty Award: Beneficiaries of INSPIRE fellowships can complete postdoctoral studies and get a job through this scheme. Typically there will be a contract of up to 5 years. Beneficiaries will get INR 1,25,000 per month and an additional yearly research grant of INR 7 Lakhs.

Read Also

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• Study Abroad Scholarships for Indian Students
• MS in US Scholarships for Indian Students
• Indian Government Education Loan Schemes to Study Abroad
• Scholarships for International Students in Canada
• UK Scholarships for Indian Students
• Scholarships to Study in Australia for Indian Students

How to apply for INSPIRE scholarships?

STEP 1

The initial step for new users is to register on the website before they can log in by providing the following:

1. Email: A valid email address must be entered, which will be used for communication regarding the application process and future communications upon registration.
2. Name: The student should provide their name as it appears on their Class XII Mark Sheet.
3. Date of birth: The correct Date of Birth must be entered, as no modifications can be made after submission. The student will also need to upload their Class X Mark sheet or certificate as proof of their date of birth during the application process.
4. Verification code (CAPTCHA): The student needs to enter the verification code displayed in the image accurately. The code is case-sensitive, and the wrong entry will generate an error. The applicant can refresh the image to get a new verification code.

STEP 2

Scan and upload the following documents

Step 3

Fill in the online application form 

1. Access the portal by using the registered email id as the user name and the registered password for logging in.
2. A screen will be displayed, where you need to select the "Scholarship" link.
3. After clicking on the "Scholarship" link, you will see the "Apply for Scholarship" button, which you should click.
4. Proceed to fill in the required fields like personal details, senior secondary and higher education details, contact information, national level competitive exam details and more one by one by clicking on the "EDIT" button.